Image forming apparatus
US6782234B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/0119
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a recycle toner conveying device for returning toner collected in a cleaning step to a developing device as recycled toner. A waste toner conveying device conveys the collected toner to a waste toner container as waste toner. A switching device selects either one of the recycle toner conveying device and waste toner conveying device. Toner can therefore be efficiently recycled in accordance with the degree of color mixture of the collected toner. In addition, It is possible to estimate the amount of toner to enter due to reverse transfer and therefore to increase the proportion of toner recycling while reducing the influence of color mixture on the toner to be recycled.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.